Comments (Newest First):

 

Post 5184

  Sea News, Dover

In this 'Beast from the East' wild and unusual weather, we have had huge container ships coming in close to shore, close to the Port. The one above there is the Maersk Guayaquil...(I hope I've spelt that right, its a tricky one). These are impressive ships, this one is a 140,000 ton vessel or thereabouts and she looks the business. Great to see it up close. Pictures are not the clearest as thick cloud, then bright spots, then snow showers hampered the situation. We understand these ships are pausing here to let pilots off. And speaking of pilots... here we are below with pictures of Dover's pilot boat going out to meet them. Hold on to your breakfast...




Also...one of the worlds biggest ships came in close to Port yesterday as well...a ship we were lucky enough to feature before, you can find it in our Search Engine above...its the China Shipping Line...GLOBE. We had some BBC stuff on it and Ed got pictures previously. For a time there recently she was the biggest container ship in the world and that's saying something. They are all bigggg. We will have NEW pictures of The Globe to follow soon. Watch for that!

It looks like you have some heavy snow around you there Del. Good luck dealing with all that. Staying warm is the thing...and if you have to get about hopefully those roads are well and truly gritted. Its cold here but so far no extra snow on Dover Seafront...its dark as I write and we have an egg shaped yellow moon beaming down on us.

PaulB

EXTRA: the shipping forecast promises us Gales and Snow Showers today in the Dover/Channel area.
All across the country the conditions are fairly terrible.

Wednesday, 28 February 2018 - 05:14

 

Post 5183

  Del Styan, Norwich

It's a shivery time indeed - it's snowing quite heavily up here in Norfolk. As I look out of the window, all I can see is white. I live on a road which is on the gritting route, but there is no traffic, and all is calm. And more snow expected overnight.
It looks beautiful - I hope the Dover seafront looks as nice tomorrow. Unless of course you are on the move!

Tuesday, 27 February 2018 - 23:02

 

Post 5182

  Sea News, Dover

Snow on Dover Seafront this morning Tuesday - see also the other chilly pictures below.
Blimey...there's some enthusiast in a camper van above there. That must be shivery. Brrrr ... PB.

Tuesday, 27 February 2018 - 11:42

 

Post 5181

  Sea News, Dover

Its a cold old day on Dover Seafront today Tuesday. The 'Beast from the East' has us chilled to the proverbial bone. Currently there is a light sprinkling of snow here along the seafront but according to the weatherman other parts of the country have it much worse. Here are a selection of cold pictures all with a chill factor....


General cargo vessel Arklow Cliff at the Cruise Terminal yesterday. A few days ago she was in Drogheda in the Irish Republic...yours truly knew the town fairly well one time, used to do some pictures there... There are a large fleet of Arklow ships and we have had several of them visit us here at the Port of Dover in the past.

Yes the all-green Arklow Cliff above there and in the foreground of pic amongst the piling...Afon Lligwy.
Below we have the Baltic Klipper...we are looking at her loading containers across the cold steel of the Port. You can see one of the containers there mid-air, the robust portside cranes doing the business.
The Baltic Klipper left last night - she is now in Vlissingen.

A couple of chilly seafront pictures below...you can feel that cold bitter wind scything through...
its morning time, and nobody is keen to spend time on that beach today...



PaulB.

Tuesday, 27 February 2018 - 05:08

 

Post 5180

  Sea News, Dover

That's ZP Boxer above there. It looks like this tug was on her way from Southampton to Rotterdam but took some shelter here in Dover. She tied up on the Admiralty Pier side (cruise terminal) .. but as the wind was coming fiercely from the east, (you can see her straining at the leash there above) she moved over to the Eastern Arm for better shelter. That's her ambling across in the shot below. She moved away then eventually. I looked at her position last night and she was close to Rotterdam...probably there by now.


Also in...the Baltic Klipper. You can see her arriving below. Its not a great shot, its hampered by morning haze and blinding light on the water...so have added an extra pic further below from a previous time so you can see the ship a bit better...hopefully.



PaulB.

Monday, 26 February 2018 - 05:10

 

Post 5179

  Sea News, Dover

A couple of extra images of the Fire on Western Heights last night - see also the post below...



Sunday, 25 February 2018 - 08:03

 

Post 5178

  Sea News, Dover

Fire on Western Heights last night around 6.15pm ... the trees were ablaze.
The Heights overlook Dover, overlook the Port.



It is unlikely to have started by spontaneous combustion - not in this chilly weather.
The Baltic Klipper is back in with us...one of the Geest newly chartered vessels. Very busy week...


Sunday, 25 February 2018 - 07:35

 

Post 5177

  Sea News, Dover

Dover Lifeboat: In the earlier post we spoke about the Lifeboat and the HM Coastguard helicopter working in tandem below the White Cliffs, and then we saw pictures of the Lifeboat's return to harbour. The Lifeboat guys then went on to another situation, this time on Dover Beach...where a man and his small boat were needing assistance. You can see all this unfurl in the pictures below... you can see that a smaller craft crewed by Lifeboat guys also lended assistance.






Pictures were taken around 4.30pm thursday, late in the day with a low sun which isn't the best lighting but there we are. All ended well overall which of course is the main point.

PaulB




Saturday, 24 February 2018 - 06:27

 

Post 5176

  Sea News, Dover

The HM Coastguard helicopter had a busy time of it yesterday. She patrolled the coast as you might expect and then on numerous occasions throughout the day circulated the Coastguard Station on the cliffs... perhaps liaising etc. Later in the day, in the late afternoon, yours truly spotted Dover Lifeboat and the Coastguard helicopter working closely together once more, they appeared to be searching the sea just below the famous White Cliffs. Whether there was another incident with a faller...well .. not sure as yet.
I just couldn't get a shot of them together which was a pity. Just too far...and just too awkward shooting across the top of Jubilee Way, the road to the Port.

But here below is the Lifeboat in a long range picture, its a bit of a watery picture....as she powered around Langdon Bay beneath the Cliffs...and then the second shot as she reached the open mouth of the Port here on her return some minutes later..




There was a further incident on the beach here in the Port which involved the Lifeboat....will have more pictures of that to follow in due course, so watch for those...
still in camera, still need sorting.

Ah yes indeed Del, in the old days we just called it winter...its now the 'Beast from the East' ...lol!

PaulB
ps: Polarstream was indeed back with us here in Port, she left last night in the dark heading for Rotterdam. I think it was around 8pm. No picture alas.. but...eventually ..



Friday, 23 February 2018 - 06:38

 

Post 5175

  Del Styan, Norwich

After watching the winter olympics, I've got my skis and curling equipment ready for the cold blast. Or as we used to call it - winter.

Thursday, 22 February 2018 - 22:56

 

Post 5174

  Sea News, Dover

Dramatic skies over the channel earlier....
Its relatively mild..well mildish...but we have been promised the 'Beast from the East' and its coming in the next few days, particularly early next week, when the wind will be whipping in from Siberia...and that's ermmm .. very east. Yes its the Russian winter and its coming to call. Shiver me timbers...

Fetch out yer thermals.

Thursday, 22 February 2018 - 19:18

 

Post 5173

  Sea News, Dover

After Polarstream left us the Eastern Bay quickly came into Port to the Dover Cargo Terminal ( DCT). So busy is the system at the moment that she (Eastern Bay) was another one waiting off Deal/Walmer for the slot to become vacant. One out, one in. Eastern has now also left us too, moving off in the dead of last night, and is on her way to Hamburg as we speak The pictures on show here show the ship coming and going at a previous time.

My AIS is showing PolarStream back in with us here...but... is that possible? Am I having a meltdown!!
Will have a further check later....


The Spirit of Britain

A small night shot of the Spirit of Britain above there arriving at Port...taken through a recent drizzly evening as she rounded the breakwater and entered via the western exit/entrance. Just double checking the logo there...we spoke about it a couple of days ago in 4662. As you can see, she still sports the older logo.


Oh well done Mike. A cracking collection below there .. great to get those shots of that new tug Buffalo in particular.
Thanks for that message Andy. Hopefully Ted will see that now (4663).

PB.


Thursday, 22 February 2018 - 06:16

 

Post 5172

  Mike J., Dover

The brand new tug BUFFALO came into Dover for a few hours on Wednesday afternoon on her delivery voyage from Rotterdam to Southampton where she will join the KOTUG fleet.



The AFON LLIGWY was working in the old Jetfoil terminal before I walked up the Ad.Pier.

To complete the Holyhead Towing’s DWDR pair here’s the LLANDDWYN ISLAND coming into Dover after escorting the HANDFAST & her tow out to sea few days ago.




Wednesday, 21 February 2018 - 22:29

 

Post 5171

  Andy Gilbert, Newhaven (andrew@andrew-gilbert.com)

Ted, if you read this, I'd love to use the Ramsgate photos of Nore Crest in my Meeching/Nore Crest life history and to ask permission to post them on the Our Newhaven website. She still has a big following down here!

Wednesday, 21 February 2018 - 08:49

 

Post 5170

  Sea News, Dover

The sun rises over Calais during the weekend just gone .. while in the foreground the Spirit of France waits to depart. Its going to be a delightfully tranquil crossing for all those half-term kids - look how calm the sea is. My kind of crossing for sure.

Just spotted this one below in the archives while uploading...a similar shot but from a couple of years ago. The sun rising in a slightly different place...it journeys with the time of year. Note the different logo on the side. The newer logo in the top shot of course.
Off the top of head - I believe the Spirit of Britain still has this old logo/livery. PB.






CHARLIE ELPHICKE MP: Fighting for the investment Dover and Deal deserves
_____________________________________________________________________


We’ve been fighting hard to get more money for our police and local services. Everyone knows that savings have needed to be made in recent years. It was the only way of dealing with the mountain of crippling debt left by Labour. Yet here in Kent the local authorities have done an incredible job. Rather than go on wild borrowing sprees, they’ve worked hard to balance the books.

Of course, we need to speak up when we think they’ve got something wrong. That’s why we fought hard against proposals to slash subsidised bus services in Kent. The council did the right thing, listened to public concern and reversed the decision.

Yet the money they need to run public services properly must come from somewhere. That’s why I and fellow Kent MPs have been battling more funding for local services and met with Ministers this week. We felt the funding being offered to Kent this financial year wasn’t enough – and demanded it be increased.

So I’m delighted that the Government listened to our case and boosted Kent County Council’s "core spending power" by £26.9 million to £938.1 million for the coming financial year. KCC was also handed an extra £3.9 million for social care spending.

Kent Police’s funding was boosted too, from £279.3 million to £288 million. I’ve written to Matthew Scott, Kent’s impressive Police and Crime Commissioner, calling on him to use this opportunity to boost police presence in Dover and Deal. The more bobbies on the beat the better.

In Deal in particular, residents tell me they want more opportunities to speak face-to-face with the police – the Deal Police Station front counter is only open two hours a day, Monday to Friday. So I’ve asked the Commissioner to consider doubling the number of hours residents have access to the local force.

We’ve achieved some real victories on local funding. Yet there is still more to do. I also met this week with Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes. The Home Office owes KCC nearly £5 million for caring for unaccompanied asylum seekers this financial year.

I have also written to Home Secretary Amber Rudd on the matter. My letter, signed by nine fellow Kent MPs, calls for KCC to be given additional funding to cover the costs of caring for the refugees.

In recent years Kent has cared for nearly a quarter of all unaccompanied asylum seeking children in the UK – and the council has had to cover the soaring costs. Meanwhile, we have handed over more than £200 million to the French to spend in Calais, where most of these vulnerable people are coming to Britain from. It’s not fair for taxpayers in Kent to shoulder so much of the burden.

We’re making progress but we need to keep the pressure up to ensure the Government invests more in our area – particularly at the Dover frontline.

Charlie Elphicke MP for DOVER and DEAL


ENDS





Wednesday, 21 February 2018 - 07:29

 

Post 5169

  Sea News, Dover

We went from ultra bright dazzling weather to ultra grimmm .. we can see hardly a thing.
Visibility fluctuates bigtime currently, going from dire to dismal. So here we are with a couple of pictures of the tugboats Dauntless and Doughty in action late last week in the very choppy conditions...these guys do a great job ...they are seen here helping new visitor Benguela Stream on her way to foreign climes.
Twas a rough ol day for sure...
There is another cargo ship/reefer in today. Polar Stream. They are coming thick and fast now. Great news.




A couple of images below of the piling at night...not fully night, but just as night falls over the harbour. Yours truly waited to catch the flashing lighthouse. The beam circulates the harbour every...well...20 seconds or so. Wait for it to come round, press the camera shutter at the appropriate time, and hope for the best ...




Many thanks for that info below Ted...always interested. That was a great group of pictures last week in 4648 indeed.

PaulB.

Tuesday, 20 February 2018 - 07:05

 

Post 5168

  Ted Ingham, Canterbury

Good Evening,
Regarding the photographs of the Car Carrier QIUDAD DE CADIZ and the tug NORE CREST at Ramsgate (Post 4648) I have produced a video taken at the same time.
To view this video and other videos of shipping on the Swale,Medway and Thames taken from my boat,, just Google "You Tube" and in the SEARCH parameter box type TED INGHAM. This will take you to my page and the thumbnails.Click on the thumbnail and you will be 'all at sea'. Hope you find them interesting. Loud Cheers, Ted

Monday, 19 February 2018 - 21:26

 

Post 5167

  Sea News, Dover

lol Vic - I changed that for you..

Nice set of pictures below there from Sarah...some crackers there from our roving reporter. Don't miss those..
Paul

Monday, 19 February 2018 - 15:06

 

Post 5165

  victor matcham, Dover

Sorry it is Whitby

Monday, 19 February 2018 - 14:54

 

Post 5164

  victor matcham, Dover

We both love Whitby what a great port with a steam train, we went out in a 1936 old life boat , but it was not the same crew. And Robin Hood Bay not far away we must go back.

Monday, 19 February 2018 - 14:51